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RelativesFC-TNCT07585955

Family Connections Transdiagnostic for Relatives of People With Emotional Dysregulation

A study testing Family Connections Transdiagnostic for relatives of people with emotional dysregulation and Optimized Treatment as Usual (TAU-O) in people with Relatives, run by University of Valencia at 1 site in Spain.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the Family Connections Transdiagnostic (FC-T) program in relatives of individuals with psychological disorders associated with emotional dysregulation through a randomized controlled trial. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 100 years
Conditions the study is for
Relatives
What is being tested?
Family Connections Transdiagnostic for relatives of people with emotional dysregulation and Optimized Treatment as Usual (TAU-O)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
172 participants
Where
1 siteSpain
Study dates
3 May 2026to 25 Dec 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 100 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • • Being 18 years of age or older.
  • Being a family member (e.g., parent, partner, sibling, or other close relative) of a patient diagnosed, according to the 5th version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), with a psychological disorder characterized by emotional dysregulation (e.g., eating disorders, Cluster B personality disorders, or disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders).
  • The patient must currently be receiving treatment in a participating clinical center.
  • Having sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Spanish language to complete the assessments and participate in the intervention.
  • Providing written informed consent to participate in the study.

Who cannot join

  • • Presence of any severe mental disorder or condition in the family member that may interfere with participation in the intervention (e.g., psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, severe cognitive impairment, or intellectual disability).
  • Current substance dependence that may hinder participation in the study.
  • Severe clinical instability in the patient that prevents the family member from participating in the intervention (as judged by clinicians).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Spain1 site
  • University of Valencia

    Valencia, Valencia, 46010

Other trials in Spain

About this study

Official title: Family Connections Transdiagnostic: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Efficacy in Relatives of People With Emotional Dysregulation

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the Family Connections Transdiagnostic (FC-T) program in relatives of individuals with psychological disorders associated with emotional dysregulation through a randomized controlled trial.

Read the detailed description

Emotional dysregulation (ED) is a core transdiagnostic process characterized by heightened emotional sensitivity, intense emotional responses, and difficulties returning to baseline emotional states. It is present across a wide range of psychological disorders, including eating disorders (EDs), Cluster B personality disorders (PD), and disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders. These conditions are associated with significant impairments in social functioning and are often accompanied by psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, interpersonal difficulties, and reduced quality of life. In addition, maladaptive strategies to cope with emotional distress (e.g., self-harm, impulsivity, aggression, binge eating) contribute to the maintenance and severity of these disorders.

Families of individuals with psychological disorders characterized by ED experience a high burden of illness and frequently report elevated levels of psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, as well as impairments in their own quality of life. Despite their key role as primary caregivers, family members often lack the necessary skills to effectively manage emotional crises and daily challenges, which may contribute to dysfunctional family dynamics and increased conflict. Although some intervention programs have been developed for caregivers of specific disorders, there is currently a lack of transdiagnostic treatments specifically designed for relatives of individuals with ED.

A skills training program called "Family Connections" (FC) was developed by Hoffman and Fruzzetti's group for relatives of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It is a program consisting of 12 weekly two-hour sessions delivered in a group format. It is divided into six modules that include psychoeducation about the disorder and its impact on family functioning, as well as skills adapted from Dialectical Behavior Therapy, such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, validation, radical acceptance, and problem management, among others. In addition, all modules include practical exercises, video examples, and homework assignments. Previous studies have shown that this program leads to significant reductions in caregiver burden, perceived distress, depression, and anxiety, as well as improvements in coping strategies and family functioning.

The present study aims to develop and evaluate a transdiagnostic adaptation of the program (Family Connections Transdiagnostic; FC-T), designed to be applied to relatives of individuals with psychological disorders characterized by emotional dysregulation, regardless of specific diagnosis. The psychoeducational modules will be adapted to address ED as a common underlying mechanism, while maintaining the core skills training components of the original program.

The aims of this study are the following: (a) to adapt and test, in the Spanish population, the modules of the FC-T intervention protocol for relatives of patients with psychological disorders characterized by ED; (b) to test the efficacy of FC-T in reducing caregiver burden and clinical symptomatology and improving family relationships and quality of life; (c) to test its efficiency, understood as the acceptance of the intervention program by participants and clinicians, and to demonstrate its feasibility; and (d) to carry out an effective dissemination of this protocol.

This paper presents the study protocol. The study design consists of a two-arm randomized controlled trial with two conditions: Family Connections Transdiagnostic (FC-T) or Treatment as usual optimized (TAU-O). Participants will be family members of patients diagnosed, according to the 5th version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), with eating disorders, Cluster B personality disorders, or disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders. The caregivers' primary outcome measures will be the Burden Assessment Scale (BAS) and a Family-Patient Critical Incident Record. Secondary outcomes will include measures of family functioning, clinical symptomatology, coping strategies, and quality of life. Patient-related outcomes will include measures of emotional dysregulation and impulsivity. Participants will be assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and twelve-month follow-up. The intention-to-treat principle will be used when analyzing data, using mixed-effects models with full information and maximum likelihood estimation.

Conditions
Relatives
Being tested
Family Connections Transdiagnostic for relatives of people with emotional dysregulation, Optimized Treatment as Usual (TAU-O)
Keywords
Intervention, family members, caregivers, Emotional dysregulation, Transdiagnostic, conduct disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders
Medical subject headings
Conduct Disorder, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Personality Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Family Connections Transdiagnostic for relatives of people with emotional dysregulationBehavioural

    The intervention lasts 3 months and includes 12 two-hour sessions in a group format on a weekly basis. The FC-T program is divided into 6 modules: 2 modules of psychoeducation on emotional dysregulation (ED) and 4 modules of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-based skills training (relationship mindfulness, emotional regulation, acceptance, validation, and problem management).

  • Optimized Treatment as Usual (TAU-O)Behavioural

    Family members will receive the usual care available in their clinical setting. In addition, they will participate in a single 3-hour group psychoeducation session including the following components: (1) up-to-date information and research on emotional dysregulation (epidemiology, frequency, comorbidity, risk and protective factors); and (2) psychoeducation on the development of emotional dysregulation, explanatory models, and available treatments.

Study groups in NCT07585955
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Family Connections Transdiagnostic for relatives of people with emotional dysregulationExperimental- 12 weekly group sessions (2 hours each) Modules: 1. Introduction and psychoeducation on ED 2. Development and explanatory models of ED 3. Emotional regulation and mindfulness 4. Acceptance and family environment improvement 5. Communication and validation 6. Problem-solving
Receives: Behavioral: Family Connections Transdiagnostic for relatives of people with emotional dysregulation
Optimized Treatment as Usual (TAU-O)Active comparatorUsual care + psychoeducational session on ED
Receives: Behavioral: Optimized Treatment as Usual (TAU-O)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Record of critical family-patient incidents

    Frequency of problem behaviors in the past 3 months, including suicide attempts, self-harm episodes, visits to psychiatric emergency services, episodes of binge eating, substance use (alcohol or drugs), stealing, fire-setting, verbal aggression, and physical aggression.

    Measured: Changes will be assessed from pre-treatment to immediately after the intervention, and also at 12-month follow-up

  2. Burden Assessment Scale (BAS)

    It is a 19-item scale that assesses the caregiver's objective and subjective burden due to the illness of their relative within the past six months using a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 4 (a lot). Higher scores indicate greater caregiver burden. The scale shows adequate validity and reliability, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from .89 to .91.

    Measured: Changes will be assessed from pre-treatment to immediately after the intervention, and also at 12-month follow-up

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Family Assessment Device - Global Functioning Scale (FAD-GF)

    It is a 60-item self-report measure of family functioning assessing domains such as communication, roles, affective involvement, and general functioning. Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale. The instrument shows good internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging between .72 and .83 for subscales and around .92 for general functioning.

    Measured: Changes will be assessed from pre-treatment to immediately after the intervention, and also at 12-month follow-up

  2. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21)

    It is a 21-item scale that measures clinical symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and stress. Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (did not apply to me) to 3 (applied to me most of the time). It shows excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of approximately .94 for depression, .87 for anxiety, and .91 for stress.

    Measured: Changes will be assessed from pre-treatment to immediately after the intervention, and also at 12-month follow-up

  3. Quality of Life Index (QLI)

    This instrument assesses perceived quality of life across several domains, including health, psychological well-being, and social relationships. Higher scores indicate better quality of life. The Spanish version has demonstrated adequate reliability and validity, with good internal consistency indices.

    Measured: Changes will be assessed from pre-treatment to immediately after the intervention, and also at 12-month follow-up

  4. Mastery and Empowerment Scale (MES)

    It is a 34-item scale that evaluates coping strategies, perceived control, and empowerment across family, service system, and community domains. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Previous studies have demonstrated robust psychometric properties, including good internal consistency and construct validity across different samples.

    Measured: Changes will be assessed from pre-treatment to immediately after the intervention, and also at 12-month follow-up

  5. Opinion of Treatment Scale

    This scale assesses participants' satisfaction, acceptance, and perceived usefulness of the intervention program. It evaluates aspects such as satisfaction, perceived effectiveness, and willingness to recommend the program. Items are rated on a Likert-type scale ranging from 0 to 10. This measure has been adapted from previous treatment opinion scales and shows adequate face validity for assessing treatment acceptability.

    Measured: Changes will be assessed from pre-treatment to immediately after the intervention, and also at 12-month follow-up

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 May 2026
  2. Study start3 May 2026
  3. Primary completion25 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion25 Dec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
This study aims to adapt FC into a transdiagnostic format (FC-T) and evaluate its efficacy compared to Optimized Treatment as Usual (TAU-O).This is an efficacy study conducted as a randomized controlled trial
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
172 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07585955
Sponsor's protocol ID
2025-PSILOG-3866898
Other IDs
Research proyect
Acronym
FC-T
Status last verified
May 2026
First submitted
6 May 2026
Last updated
28 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Individual participant data will be available after de-identification.

Publications

  • Guillen V. Psychological interventions for family members of people with psychological disorders with emotional dysregulation: Introduction to special section. Fam Process. 2024 Dec;63(4):2087-2098. doi: 10.1111/famp.13090. Epub 2024 Nov 30.

    PubMed 39614767
  • Guillen V, Fernandez-Felipe I, Marco JH, Grau A, Botella C, Garcia-Palacios A. "Family Connections", a program for relatives of people with borderline personality disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Fam Process. 2024 Dec;63(4):2195-2214. doi: 10.1111/famp.13089. Epub 2024 Dec 3.

    PubMed 39624006
  • Flynn D, Kells M, Joyce M, Corcoran P, Herley S, Suarez C, Cotter P, Hurley J, Weihrauch M, Groeger J. Family Connections versus optimised treatment-as-usual for family members of individuals with borderline personality disorder: non-randomised controlled study. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2017 Aug 30;4:18. doi: 10.1186/s40479-017-0069-1. eCollection 2017.

    PubMed 28861273
  • Hoffman PD, Fruzzetti AE. Advances in interventions for families with a relative with a personality disorder diagnosis. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2007 Feb;9(1):68-73. doi: 10.1007/s11920-007-0012-z.

    PubMed 17257517
  • Hoffman PD, Fruzzetti AE, Buteau E, Neiditch ER, Penney D, Bruce ML, Hellman F, Struening E. Family connections: a program for relatives of persons with borderline personality disorder. Fam Process. 2005 Jun;44(2):217-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1545-5300.2005.00055.x.

    PubMed 16013747

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Family Connections Transdiagnostic for relatives of people with emotional dysregulation and Optimized Treatment as Usual (TAU-O) in people with Relatives, run by University of Valencia at 1 site in Spain.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Record of critical family-patient incidents (time frame: Changes will be assessed from pre-treatment to immediately after the intervention, and also at 12-month follow-up). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07585955, which also lists 5 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 May 2026.

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